Day at the Races: Saez boots home three winners to pad lead in jockey standings

The Day at the Races

Thursday’s figures: On-track attendance, 9,846; on-track betting, $851,644.50; total betting including simulcast, $6,429,134.27.

This day last year: On-track attendance, 7,811; on-track betting, $594,860; total betting including simulcast, $5,138,026.

Coming up: Miss Temple City, second in the Grade I Queen Elizabeth II Challenge Cup at Keeneland last October, will attempt to become the first female runner to win the Grade I Maker’s 46 Mile or its predecessor, the Grade I Maker’s Mark Mile. A field of nine are set to go to post in the eight-furlong test.

Final furlong

▪ Trainer Doug O’Neill was on hand Thursday morning to watch unbeaten champion Nyquist jog twice around the Keeneland oval in advance of his expected half-mile move on Friday. “He had an easy day today but he looked good, he looked loose,” O’Neill said. O’Neill added that Nyquist will have all of his works leading up to the Kentucky Derby at Keeneland.

▪ LNJ Foxwoods’ Nickname, winner of last fall’s Grade I Frizette at Belmont Park, looms as the filly to beat when she goes postward Sunday in the Grade III, $150,000 Adena Springs Beaumont Stakes. Trained by Steve Asmussen, Nickname will be cutting back to a sprint distance for the first time since breaking her maiden at Saratoga in September. Following her Frizette victory, Nickname finished fourth in Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Fillies last October.

▪ Luis Saez padded his early lead in the Keeneland jockey standings. Saez, who came into Thursday’s card with seven wins, guided homed three more victors, including taking the nightcap with 9-to-5 shot Awesome Music

This story was originally published April 14, 2016 at 7:33 PM with the headline "Day at the Races: Saez boots home three winners to pad lead in jockey standings."